May to meet European leaders during first foreign trip

London, July 19 (IANS) Theresa May is set to hold her first face-to-face meetings with European leaders as British Prime Minister when she travels to Berlin and Paris later this week.

While it is usual for incoming premiers to make early visits to establish personal links with key European leaders, this week’s trip will focus more on the outcome of the European Union (EU) referendum and the need to shape a new relationship between the UK and its neighbours on the continent, the Independent reported on Tuesday.

May will travel to Berlin on Wednesday where she is slated to meet German Chancellor Angela Merkel and on Thursday will hold talks with French President Francois Hollande at the Elysee Palace.

This trip comes after May met Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon in Edinburgh last week.

After a 45-minute meeting, May ruled out a second referendum on Scottish independence, which Sturgeon has described as “highly likely” after Scots voted to remain in the EU while the UK as a whole voted for its exit on July 24, the Independent said.

“As far as I’m concerned, the Scottish people have had their vote, they voted in 2014 and a very clear message came through. Both the UK and the Scottish Government said they would abide by that,” the daily quoted the Prime Minister as saying.